If Stavanger in Norway is one of your port-of-calls on a Norwegian fjords cruise, let me just say, you’re in for a treat. This charming Norwegian city has plenty to offer, from a cheerful rainbow-coloured street (which reminded me a little of Reykjavik in Iceland) to endless coffee shops and a beautiful whitewashed old town to wander through.
Known as the oil capital of Norway, Stavanger has a rich history in fossil fuels. In fact, there’s even a fascinating oil museum dedicated to that very topic! Fascinating, and oil museum are words I never thought I would string together in a sentence, but here we are!
Stavanger was the very first stop on our Norwegian cruise, and it turned out to be a brilliant way to kick things off and dip our toes into this beautiful country. If you’re looking for ideas on what to do while you’re visiting, here’s a list of some great things to check out during your time in Stavanger.
Stavanger at a Glance – Don’t Miss 👀
- A thrilling RIB boat ride to Pulpit Rock and Flørli Stairs
- Exploring the Norwegian Canning Museum to learn about Stavanger’s history
- Hiring e-bikes to explore the area
- Walking to Øvre Holmegate to enjoy the colourful street, shops and cafes
- Admiring all the white wooden houses in the Old Town
Take a RIB Boat Ride to Pulpit Rock & Flørli Stairs
The RIB boat ride is a classic fjords adventure, which you’ll find at most, if not all, of your port-of-calls and I highly recommend giving it a go. We did our RIB boat ride in Hellesylt which was incredible, and we got to see the beautiful Seven Sisters waterfall along with many others along the way.
However, from Stavanger, the route takes you along Lysefjord, where you can gaze up at the famous Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) towering high above the water, the impressive Whiskey Falls and Vagabond’s Cave.
If you want more, GetYourGuide have another great option which includes the RIB boat ride and you also get to climb up Flørli Stairs. The tallest wooden staircase in the world! This steep, narrow staircase consists of 4,444 steps and gives you incredible views over the fjord. If you’re keen for the challenge, and burning quads, see what tickets are available here.
RIB boat rides are such a fun and exhilarating way to explore the fjords, and the scenery from Stavanger would make this location a great pick. Plus they are conveniently docked right by the cruise ship, making this one of the easiest activities to do.
Hike to The Iconic Pulpit Rock
If you’ve got the time and stamina, hiking to Pulpit Rock is one of Norway’s ultimate bucket-list adventures. The hike starts after an hour coach transfer from central Stavanger, and from there it’s around a two hour walk up to the large flat rock ledge that juts dramatically over Lysefjord. When you’ve finished soaking in the picturesque aerial fjord views, it’s a case of retracing your steps all the way back to the coach.
This moderately challenging 8 km hike sends you through rough terrain, including steep sections and a total elevation gain of approximately 500 meters. So be prepared for a physically demanding hike that takes around 4 hours to complete. You’d definitely want some grippy walking boots on for this hike!
Pulpit Rock is a popular walk, so be prepared for crowds (especially when people are turning up in coach loads) but the views are said to be breathtaking. If we ever return to Stavanger, this hike would definitely be top of our list. Although I’d want to get up early to try and avoid the crowds.
This is a long excursion (around 6 hours) and if you’re arriving by cruise, you won’t have much time left to explore Stavanger. So take that into consideration when planning our your day.
Take a look here for Pulpit Rock tickets.
Read more: Loen Skylift, Norway: One Of The Steepest Cable Cars in The World
Learn About Fossil Fuels at The Norwegian Petroleum Museum
For something a bit more unusual, head to Stavanger’s Petroleum Museum. It’s only a short walk from the cruise terminal, and makes a perfect rainy-day activity for all the family. Even if fossil fuels aren’t a passion of yours, you’ll find loads of interactive exhibits inside explaining Norway’s oil industry, history and offshore operations. Theres plenty going on to keep both adults and children interested and engaged.
I would allow at least 2–3 hours here if you’re keen to learn and make the most of your visit.
Adult tickets are around £13, 4-16 year olds are around £5 and under 4’s go free. They also offer discounted family ticket options. Check availabiltiy here.
Enjoy Lunch Or A Pint By The Harbour
Stavanger’s waterfront is lined with lively pubs, cafes, and restaurants serving a mixture of local cuisine and English favourites. Many of them have outdoor seating so you can enjoy views of the harbour while tucking into a tasty lunch, alcoholic drink or sipping a comforting hot coffee in the sunshine.
If you’re not hungry enough for a full-on meal, I recommend grabbing a kanelsnurr (a delicious Norwegian twisted cinnamon bun) and coffee by the water.
Stavanger was the only port-of-call (out of Olden, Hellesylt and Haugesund) that had a Burger King. So if you’re craving a Whopper burger junk food fix, this is the place to grab one.
Do Some Retail Therapy
Stavanger is surprisingly good for shopping as it’s larger than you think! With mostly local Norwegian boutiques and a few international stores, shopping in Stavanger is a memorable experience where you’ll probably buy something special. We enjoyed browsing the stores, and we even discovered a dedicated Christmas shop, which was perfect for adding to our travel bauble collection!
There was also a market on in the square near the harbour, which sold mostly souvenir type gifts and beanies with ‘Norway’ embroidered on.
Visit The Norwegian Canning Museum
Did you know Stavanger was once known as the “Canning Capital of Norway”? From the 19th century until the 1950s, sardine canning was a huge industry here. They exported sardines all over the world and were one of the biggest exporters of its time! Impressive.
You can learn all about this chapter of history at the Norwegian Canning Museum, which tells the story of how this little fish helped put Stavanger on the map.
Under 18’s are free, everyone else costs around £10 each.
Stroll Around Breiavatnet Lake
Right in the heart of Stavanger, there’s a pretty peaceful lake surrounded by parkland. It’s dotted with benches and picnic tables, and home to plenty of birdlife, both on and off the water. We spotted many hooded crows which looked far more interesting compared to the plain black crows we get in the UK, and a baby seagull which wasn’t so unique!
We couldn’t see anywhere to hire pedalo’s or any type of water craft to get out on the lake. But it was a lovely space to take a gentle stroll, enjoy a picnic on a sunny day, or to just get off the cruise ship and stretch your legs.
Hire an E-Bike and Cycle Around Stavanger
Stavanger is very cycle-friendly, with plenty of cycle paths and city e-bikes available to hire right in the harbour. You can download the local app (Kolumbus) to get started, and it’s a great way to explore beyond the harbour.
Read more: Best Things To Do in Olden, Norway: Cruise Port Guide
Stavanger Cathedral – The Oldest In Norway
Dating back to the 12th century, Stavanger Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Norway. When we visited there was a long queue, so we just admired it from the outside. Its stone exterior looks more like a large church than a grand cathedral, but it’s still a striking landmark right in the centre of town.
Visit Stavanger’s Colourful Street
One of the prettiest parts of Stavanger has to be the vibrant rainbow-coloured street (Øvre Holmegate). It’s lined with quirky cafes, bars, and boutique shops, and has a similar vibe to Reykjavik or even Glastonbury here in the UK.
The bright paintwork and strings of bunting make it a cheerful place to wander and I recommend popping into Bøker og Børst if you fancy a delicious cinnamon bun.
This vibrant, cheery street is just a short walk from the cruise terminal, so definitely worth popping by.
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Head Further Out To The Sverd i Fjell Monument
The Sverd i Fjell (“Swords in Rock”) monument is a bit further out from the cruise port, so you’ll need to plan transport if you want to see it. The hop-on-hop-off bus stops there, or you could cycle if you’ve hired bikes, or perhaps even walk if you’ve allowed enough time.
The sculpture has three 10 meter bronze swords standing in rocks, and it represents the historic Battle of Hafrsfjord which took place in 872, when King Harald Fairhair gathered all of Norway under one crown.
We had planned to cycle out ourselves but ended up sticking closer to town. Next time it’ll be on the list!
Gamle Stavanger – Europes Best Preserved Wooden House Settlement
One of the highlights of exploring Stavanger has to be the Old Town, with its charming cobbled streets and white timber houses it looks absolutely beautiful. This part of Stavanger dates back to the 18th century and is Europes best-preserved wooden house settlement! Theres over 170 white timber houses which would have originally be owned by the sardine factory workers.
The area feels like stepping back in time, but just remember people live here. Admire the charm without gawking through windows and making residents feel like they live in a zoo.
Search for Stavanger’s Street Art
Much like Reykjavik, Stavanger is full of quirky street art. It’s all over the place. The most obvious piece is the big “Welcome to Stavanger” mural right by the cruise port, but you’ll spot plenty of hidden gems tucked around corners as you explore.
Enjoy discovering fun art on every turn.
Climb the Old Watchtower – Valberget
To gain a view from a slightly higher vantage point, head up to the old fire watchtower – Valberget. This stone tower was built between 1850 and 1853, and although it’s not particularly tall, it does give you a 360° view over Stavanger. Theres a few old cannon’s around it’s base too, and you’ll get a great photo of your cruise ship from here!
During the summer it’s open between 11:00-15:00 Monday-Saturday and costs 40NOK per person to enter (around £3)
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Play at the Industrial GeoPark
Near Stavanger’s Petroleum Museum you’ll find a quirky industrial-style park filled with pipes, climbing frames, monkey bars, tunnels, and balance beams. It looks a bit scruffy in photos as its peppered in graffiti, but in real life it’s surprisingly unique and quirky.
Kids seemed to be especially loving climbing over the red inflated balls!
Final Thoughts on Stavanger
Stavanger really surprised me with how much there is to see and do. Whether you’re up for an adrenaline-filled boat ride along the fjords, a peaceful wander through the old cobbled streets, or simply coffee and cinnamon buns by the water, there’s something here for everyone.
It’s a city that feels both modern and historic, with its oil industry heritage, quirky street art, and beautifully preserved old town all sitting side by side.
If your Norwegian fjords cruise stops in Stavanger, I’d definitely recommend getting off the ship and exploring. Stavanger may not be post-card-perfect Norway, but theres loads to see and it’s one of those ports that has a little bit of everything.
Before I go. If you’re visiting other places in Norway, check out my other Norway posts on things to do in Hellesylt, Haugesund and Olden where we went up one of the steepest cable cars in the world!
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The blog is where the full story lives, but if you want to come along for the ride in real time for behind the scenes moments, and everything as it happens. Come follow me on Instagram: @roostandroam.co.uk
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